Roll feed for strip- or band-shaped workpieces, especially at quick-motion presses

ABSTRACT

A roll feed for strip- or band-shaped workpieces, particularly for quick-motion presses, comprising two cooperating rolls and an intermittent feed motion being imparted to one of the rolls by an intermittent drive means via gears. The gears are exchangeable in order to obtain different feed lengths. The gears include a first gear coaxially arranged with the drive roll and connected with the driven roll for rotation therewith, a second gear meshing with the first gear and coaxially arranged with and connected to a third gear for rotation therewith, and a fourth gear meshing with the third gear and driven by the intermittent drive means.

United States 4Patent Bergmann et al.

[451 Oct. 10, 1972 ROLL FEED FOR STRIP- OR BAND- SHAPED WORKPIECES, ESPECIALLY AT QUICK-MOTION PRESSES Inventors: Ewald Bergmann, Goppingen; Alfred Barcis, Uhingen, both of Germany Assignee: L. Schuler GmbH, Goeppingen,

Germany Filed: March 20, 1970 Appl. No.: 21,338

Foreign Application Priority Data March 22, 1969 Germany P 19 14 773.0

U.S. Cl. ..226/141, 226/ 152, 226/ 188 Int. Cl. ..B6Sh 17/22 Field of Search ..226/142, 156, 157, 152-155,

-/v I i u References Cited UNrTED STATES PATENTS 10/ 1937 Comock ..226/32 4/1958 Conrad ..226/142 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Attomey-Craig and Antonelli [57] ABSTRACT A roll feed for stripor band-shaped workpeces, particularly for quick-motion presses, comprising two cooperating rolls and an intemiittent feed motion being imparted to one of the rolls by an intermittent drive means via gears. The gears are exchangeable in order to obtain different feed lengths. The gears include a first gear coaxiaily arranged with the drive roll and connected with the driven roll for rotation therewith, a second gear meshing with the first gear and coaxially arranged with and connected to a third gear for rotation therewith, and a fourth gear meshing with the third gear and driven by the intermittent drive means.

25 Claims, Drawing Figures ROLL FEED FOR STRIP- OR BANDSIIAPED WORKPIECES, ESPECIALLY AT QUICK-MOTION PRESSES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Usually, only one of the two rolls of the roll feed is lo driven directly, and this roll drives the other roll via a pair of gears; such roll feeds operate intermittently. During standstill, the workpiece is processed in the press in sections, for example, punching.

In a conventional roll feed, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,017,796, one of the two cooperating rolls has imparted thereto an intermittent advancing motion corresponding to the rhythm of the drive, by means of an intermittent vdrive via gears. The gears are exchangeable in order to obtain differently large feed path lengths.

The roll feeds must advance the workpiece, even at a high number of downward strokes of the press ram, with the accuracy at which the tools machine the workpiece. Since gear errors are unavoidable, and these errors add up in the unfavorable situation and thus also impair the accuracy of the feed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION lt is the aim of the present invention to overcome the problems and disadvantages encountered in the prior art by utilizing as few gears as possible.

The underlying problems are solved in accordance with the invention by arranging a first gear coaxially with respect to the driven roll and connecting this gear with the roll for rotation therewith. A second gear meshes with the first gear and is arranged coaxially with respect to and connected to a third gear for rotation therewith. The third gear meshes with a fourth gear driven by the intermittent drive, and the driven roll is in driving connection with the other roll in a conventional manner by means of a pair of gears.

ln order to make it possible to construct the drive for the roll feed in a compact fashion, the present invention provides that the'spacing of the common axis of the second and third gears from the axis of the first gear or the fourth gear, respectively, is variable in a narrow range, and that the spacing of this common axis from the axis of the fourth gear or of the first gear, respectively, is variable in a wide range.

According to the present invention, the variability of these axial spacings in a wide range can be obtained by disposing an arm in a pivotable and lockable fashion about the axis of the driven roll or about the axis of the fourth gear, which arm contains the second and third gears. The variability of these axial distances in a narrow range is obtained in accordance with the present invention by arranging the second gear and the third gear in the arm in an eccentric manner with respect to the gear axis.

Also in accordance with the present invention, the pivoting of the arm can be facilitated by providing this arm with a gear segment meshing with a drive pinion which is fixedly mounted.

The present invention also provides at least one annular slot in the arm for locking the arm after the pivoting step, through which slot the arm can be locked by means of a screw mechanism with respect to a fixed part of the machine.

The advantages obtainable by the present invention reside particularly in that, for each feed length, no more than only four exchangeable gears are required. This makes it possible to effect a solution which is, from a constructional viewpoint, particularly simple. Thereby, even in case of unavoidable gear errors, a feed of the workpiece is attained which has an accuracy satisfying practical requirements in every respect. This feed is just as accurate as the presses and punching tools, for example for the working of sheet metal strips or bands, wherein so-called anchor pins serve for securing the exact position of the workpiece section to be processed in this particular instance, in the machine tool.

Since the feed is the more accurate because less gears are employed, it is apparent that, by the use of only four gears in accordance'with the present invention which can be exchanged in correspondence with the respectively desired feed length, the effect of gear precision on the accuracy of the feed length is likewise reduced to a very low, practically permissible degree.

Although the sole arrangement of only four gears already represents a solution which is completely sufficient for the practical requirements and is, furthermore, particularly simple in structure, another simplification of the drive in accordance with the present invention is attained by providing the roll feed so that the spacing of the common axis of the second and third gears from the axis of the first or the fourth gear is variable within a narrow range while, from the axis of the fourth or first gear, is variable within a wide range so that two different ranges are present, wherein the axial spacings of the gears are variable. For practical requirements, it is sufficient to provide only one wide range. The second, narrow range can be accomplished, constructionally, by simpler means than the provision of another wide, second range.

The wide range can be attained by the pivotable and lockable ann. An advantageous solution for the narrow range wherein the spacings of the gear axes are variable, is proffered in accordance with the present invention by the eccentric axial mounting. These two ranges make it possible to construct the drive of the roll feed in an especially simple manner. They are completely sufficient for practical requirements, and furthermore, they offer the advantage that the possible transmission ratios can still be recognized. This also reduces to a practically acceptable degree the number of the gears necessary for various feed lengths. However, this ready supervision would be impaired if the spacing of the axis of the second and third gears were variable within a wide range with respect to the axis of the fourth gear, as well as with respect to the axis of the first gear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and further features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of illustration only, an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein;

FIG. 1 is a front view of the essential parts of the roll feed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic lateral view of the roll feed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to FIG. 2, an intermittent drive, as indicated by a housing 5, imparts to a gear'4, which has an axis denoted by numeral 6, in each instance a rotation of, for example, about 120. The gear 4 meshes with a gear 3 which is coaxially arranged with a gear 2 and connected with this gear 2 for rotation therewith. The gears 2 and 3, along with the common axis 7, are eccentrically mounted in an arm-8, as shown in FIG. l. The arm is disposed so that it is pivotable and lockable about the axis 9 of the driven roll 10. A gear 1 is coaxially arranged with the roll 10 and connected for rotation therewith. This gear l meshes with the gear 2.

The adjustment of the eccentricity of the common axis 7 of the two gears 2 and 3 serves for adapting the spacing of this axis 7 from the axis 9 of the gear 1. The total number of gear teeth of the two gears 1 and 2 is to be constant, if at all possible. Therefore, it is sufficient if the spacing between axes 7 and 9 is variable within a narrow range; an eccentricity of a few millimeters, for example, can be enough. This makes possible the provision of a very simple construction and offers the additional advantage that the great variety of feeds, which are at all possible theoretically, is restricted to a practically necessary extent, so that the transmission ratios can still be clearly recognized. The desired feed lengths are obtained by exchanging the gears 1, 2, 3, and 4.

In order to beable to vary the, spacing of axes 6 and 7 from each other in correspondence with the number of teeth of the gears 3 and 4 required for a specific feed length, the arm 8, wherein the gears 2 and 3 are disposed, is pivotable about the axis 9 of the roll l0. After exchanging the gears 3 and 4, the arm 8 is thus pivoted in correspondence with the diameters of these two gears until the latter mesh appropriately, and the pivoting is carried out in the direction of the double arrow 1l. Then, the arm is locked with respect to a fixed part of the machine (not illustrated), for example, by tightening a screw 13 extending through an annular slot 12 of the arm 8. The annular slot l2 and the screw mechanism 13 are provided in duplicate in this embodiment.

A gear segment 14 serves for pi-voting the arm 8, which segment is attached to the arm and meshes with a drivable pinion 15 which. is fixedly mounted.

A gear 16 is fixedly connected with the driven roll 10; this gear meshes with a gear 18, the latter being connected in a conventional manner with the other roll 17 for rotation therewith. The workpiece to be advanced or fed between the rolls l0 and 17 is designated generally by numeral 19.

The present invention therefore makes possible the achievement of large feed range with very fine stepping. For example, the present invention makes it possible to obtain, for example, a practically uninterrupted feed range of 20 to 200 millimeters with a relatively small number of gears.

While we have shown and described one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and we, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention.

We claim:

l. Roll feed for stripor band-shaped workpieces, especially for quick-motion press machines, wherein the roll feed has two cooperating rolls; intermittent feed drive means operatively associated with gear means for imparting intermittent feed motion to at least one of said rolls, said gear means adapted to be exchangeable so as to obtain feed lengths of different size, characterized in that said gear means includes a first gear coaxially arranged with and directly connected to said at least one roll for rotation therewith; a second gear meshing with said first gear and coaxially arranged with respect to a third gear for rotation therewith; a fourth gear meshing with said third gear, said fourth gear being driven by said drive means, and means connecting the common axis of said second and third gears to the axis of one of the other two gears for varying the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of said one gear within a relatively narrow range, said connecting means being arranged for varying the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of said other of the two gears within a relatively wide range.

2. Roll feed according to claim l, wherein means are provided for drivingly connecting said two cooperating rolls.

3. Roll feed according to claim 2, wherein said lastmentioned means includes a pair of meshing gears.

4. Roll feed for stripor band-shaped workpieces, especially for quick-motion press machines, wherein the roll feed has two cooperating rolls; intermittent feed drive means operatively associated with gear means for imparting intermittent feed motion to at least one of said rolls, said gear means adapted to be exchangeable so as to obtain feed lengths of different size, characterized in that said gear means includes a first gear coaxially arranged with and operatively connected to said at least one roll for rotation therewith; a second gear meshing with said first gear and coaxially arranged with respect to a third gear for rotation therewith; a fourth gear meshing with said third gear, said fourth gear being driven by said drive means; and an arm operatively associated with said second and third gears, said arm being lockingly pivotable about the axis of said at least one roll.

S. Roll feed according to claim 4, wherein means are provided for drivingly connecting said two cooperating rolls.

6. Roll feed according to claim 5, wherein the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of one of the other two gears is variable within a relatively narrow range and, from the other of the two gears, is variable within a relatively wide range.

7. Roll feed according to claim 4, wherein said second and third gears are eccentrically mounted in said arm with respect to the axes thereof.

8. Roll feed according to claim 7, wherein the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of one of the other two gears is variable within a relatively narrow range and, from the other of the two gears, is variable within a relatively wide range.

9. Roll feed according to claim 4, wherein said arm includes a gear segment, and drive pinion means fixedly associated with the machine and meshing with said gear segment for selectively pivoting said arm.

10. Roll feed according to claim 9, wherein means are provided for drivingly connecting said two cooperating rolls.

1l. Roll feed according to claim 10, wherein said second and third gears are eccentrically mounted in said arm with respect to the axis thereof.

12. Roll feed `according to claim 4, wherein said arm is provided with at least one annular slot means for locking said arm with respect to a stationary portion of the machine by screw means.

13. Roll feed according to claim 12, wherein said second and third gears are eccentrically mounted in said arm with respect to the axes thereof.

14. Roll feed according to claim 13, wherein said arm includes a gear segment, and drive pinion means being fixedly associated with the machine and meshing with said gear segment for selectively pivoting said arm.

15. Roll feed for strip- .or band-shaped workpieces, especially for quick-motion press machines, wherein the roll feed has two cooperating rolls; intermittent feed drive means operatively associated with gear means for imparting intermittent feed motion to at least one of said rolls, said gear means adapted to be exchangeable so as to obtain feed lengths of different size, characterized in that said gear means includes a first gear coaxially arranged with and operatively connected to said at least one roll for rotation therewith; a second gear meshing with said first gear and coaxially arranged with respect to a third gear for rotation therewith; a fourth gear meshing with said third gear, said fourth gear being driven by said drive means; and an arm operatively associated with said second and third gear, said arm being lockingly pivotable about the axis of said fourth gear. l

16. Roll feed according to claim 15, wherein means are provided for drivingly connecting said two cooperating rolls.

17. Roll feed according to claim 16, wherein the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of one of the other two gears is variable within a relatively narrow range and, from the other of the two gears, is variable within a relatively wide range.

18. Roll feed according to claim 15, wherein said second and third gears are eccentrically mounted in said arm with respect to the axes thereof.

19. Roll feed according to claim 18, wherein the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of one of the other two gears is variable within a relatively narrow range and, from the other of the two gears, is variable within a relatively wide range.

20. Roll feed according to claim 15, wherein said arm includes a gear segment, and drive pinion means being fixedly associated with the machine and meshing with said gear segment for selectively pivoting said arm.

21, Roll feed according to claim 20, wherein the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of one of the other two gears is variable within a relatively narrow range and, from the otherof the two gears, is variable within a relatively wide range.

22. Roll feed according to claim 2l, wherein said second and third gears are eccentrically mounted in said arm with respect to the axes thereof.

23. Roll feed according to claim 1S, wherein said arm is provided with at least one annular slot means for locking said arm with respect to a stationary portion of th rn h' b sre mas.

t24,;1Icollrllefeld cacdbrdngl to claim 23, wherein said second and third gears are eccentrically mounted in said arm with respect to the axes thereof.

25. Roll feed according to claim 24, wherein said arm includes a gear segment, and drive pinion means being fixedly associated with the machine and meshing with said gear segment for selectively pivoting said arm. 

1. Roll feed for strip- or band-shaped workpieces, especially for quick-motion press machines, wherein the roll feed has two cooperating rolls; intermittent feed drive means operatively associated with gear means for imparting intermittent feed motion to at least one of said rolls, said gear means adapted to be exchangeable so as to obtain feed lengths of different size, characterized in that said gear means includes a first gear coaxially arranged with and directly connected to said at least one roll for rotation therewith; a second gear meshing with said first gear and coaxially arranged with respect to a third gear for rotation therewith; a fourth gear meshing with said third gear, said fourth gear being driven by said drive means, and means connecting the common axis of said second and third gears to the axis of one of The other two gears for varying the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of said one gear within a relatively narrow range, said connecting means being arranged for varying the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of said other of the two gears within a relatively wide range.
 2. Roll feed according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for drivingly connecting said two cooperating rolls.
 3. Roll feed according to claim 2, wherein said last-mentioned means includes a pair of meshing gears.
 4. Roll feed for strip- or band-shaped workpieces, especially for quick-motion press machines, wherein the roll feed has two cooperating rolls; intermittent feed drive means operatively associated with gear means for imparting intermittent feed motion to at least one of said rolls, said gear means adapted to be exchangeable so as to obtain feed lengths of different size, characterized in that said gear means includes a first gear coaxially arranged with and operatively connected to said at least one roll for rotation therewith; a second gear meshing with said first gear and coaxially arranged with respect to a third gear for rotation therewith; a fourth gear meshing with said third gear, said fourth gear being driven by said drive means; and an arm operatively associated with said second and third gears, said arm being lockingly pivotable about the axis of said at least one roll.
 5. Roll feed according to claim 4, wherein means are provided for drivingly connecting said two cooperating rolls.
 6. Roll feed according to claim 5, wherein the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of one of the other two gears is variable within a relatively narrow range and, from the other of the two gears, is variable within a relatively wide range.
 7. Roll feed according to claim 4, wherein said second and third gears are eccentrically mounted in said arm with respect to the axes thereof.
 8. Roll feed according to claim 7, wherein the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of one of the other two gears is variable within a relatively narrow range and, from the other of the two gears, is variable within a relatively wide range.
 9. Roll feed according to claim 4, wherein said arm includes a gear segment, and drive pinion means fixedly associated with the machine and meshing with said gear segment for selectively pivoting said arm.
 10. Roll feed according to claim 9, wherein means are provided for drivingly connecting said two cooperating rolls.
 11. Roll feed according to claim 10, wherein said second and third gears are eccentrically mounted in said arm with respect to the axis thereof.
 12. Roll feed according to claim 4, wherein said arm is provided with at least one annular slot means for locking said arm with respect to a stationary portion of the machine by screw means.
 13. Roll feed according to claim 12, wherein said second and third gears are eccentrically mounted in said arm with respect to the axes thereof.
 14. Roll feed according to claim 13, wherein said arm includes a gear segment, and drive pinion means being fixedly associated with the machine and meshing with said gear segment for selectively pivoting said arm.
 15. Roll feed for strip- or band-shaped workpieces, especially for quick-motion press machines, wherein the roll feed has two cooperating rolls; intermittent feed drive means operatively associated with gear means for imparting intermittent feed motion to at least one of said rolls, said gear means adapted to be exchangeable so as to obtain feed lengths of different size, characterized in that said gear means includes a first gear coaxially arranged with and operatively connected to said at least one roll for rotation therewith; a second gear meshing with said first gear and coaxially arranged with respect to a third gear for rotation therewith; a fourth gear meshing with said third gear, said fourth gear being driven by said drive mEans; and an arm operatively associated with said second and third gear, said arm being lockingly pivotable about the axis of said fourth gear.
 16. Roll feed according to claim 15, wherein means are provided for drivingly connecting said two cooperating rolls.
 17. Roll feed according to claim 16, wherein the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of one of the other two gears is variable within a relatively narrow range and, from the other of the two gears, is variable within a relatively wide range.
 18. Roll feed according to claim 15, wherein said second and third gears are eccentrically mounted in said arm with respect to the axes thereof.
 19. Roll feed according to claim 18, wherein the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of one of the other two gears is variable within a relatively narrow range and, from the other of the two gears, is variable within a relatively wide range.
 20. Roll feed according to claim 15, wherein said arm includes a gear segment, and drive pinion means being fixedly associated with the machine and meshing with said gear segment for selectively pivoting said arm.
 21. Roll feed according to claim 20, wherein the spacing of the common axis of said second and third gears from the axis of one of the other two gears is variable within a relatively narrow range and, from the other of the two gears, is variable within a relatively wide range.
 22. Roll feed according to claim 21, wherein said second and third gears are eccentrically mounted in said arm with respect to the axes thereof.
 23. Roll feed according to claim 15, wherein said arm is provided with at least one annular slot means for locking said arm with respect to a stationary portion of the machine by screw means.
 24. Roll feed according to claim 23, wherein said second and third gears are eccentrically mounted in said arm with respect to the axes thereof.
 25. Roll feed according to claim 24, wherein said arm includes a gear segment, and drive pinion means being fixedly associated with the machine and meshing with said gear segment for selectively pivoting said arm. 